Arvian somehow managed to complete the Unhuman mission and received some rewards upon completion.
When they returned to the base in the mountain, Arvian couldn't shake the confusion in his mind. Why did he kill five innocent people and not feel bad about it? Even during the Hidden mission, he felt the same—no guilt for the lives he took.
"Declan... we went to the city, but there was someone doing the killings. Like some invisible man... First, some men were killed, and then two innocent children..." Jaxyn said hesitantly.
"Might've been some murderer," Declan replied casually. "But why are you so worried? Don't forget—they're the ones who never wanted us to live in peace. Soon, you'll be doing the same once we declare war."
Jaxyn didn't respond. He just gave a nod. Deep down, he knew Declan was right. It was those same people—those innocent-seeming humans—who had killed their families, even when they had done no wrong.
Arvian quietly listened to their conversation, his mind clouded with thoughts. He had a weird, empty feeling that he could not get rid of. It was confusion, not regret or guilt.
Why didn't he regret it? It felt natural to kill those men and the others during the mission, as though it was his destiny.
Sighing, still trembling, Jaxyn leaned against the wall. "Declan, but why kill children? They were innocent. I get it; the world is cruel to us, but what if they weren't even involved in the war?"
Declan, sitting cross-legged with a calm but cold expression, replied, "In war, innocence doesn't matter. They will grow up to hate us, just like their parents did. It's better to strike first than to wait for them to turn against us." He looked Jaxyn in the eye. "That's the truth you need to accept. Surviving as a Velnoctene means knowing mercy has no place in this world."
After a moment of hesitation, Jaxyn nodded. Though he disliked the thought, he secretly knew Declan was not totally mistaken.
Arvian clenched his fists and sat quietly in a corner. He seemed to be looking for answers as he examined his hands. Was this how it was going to be? To kill without hesitation, without emotion? And why did it feel like something inside him welcomed it?
When Declan saw Arvian's silence, he grinned a little. "You're already learning, aren't you? You did kill the villagers in the village with Dareth, didn't you Arvian? Killing isn't as hard as people make it out to be. Soon enough, you won't even hesitate."
Arvian looked up but said nothing. He had only questions running through his mind, but no answers. Was he truly losing himself, or was this who he had been all along?
"Well, leave all that for now and focus on training," Declan said firmly.
Over the next month, Declan taught Arvian and Jaxyn all four elements. Both of them mastered the basic elements and grew stronger. Now that he had complete control over his mana, Arvian could easily direct and control it. However, Jaxyn had advanced even further, becoming more proficient and skilled than Arvian.
As the month came to an end, Arvian, Jaxyn, and Declan gathered in the chamber with Dareth, who had regained consciousness a week ago and was now in good health.
"Tomorrow is the Azmaris Academy exam," Declan said.
"You'll likely have to face monsters during the test. So, for the final day of training, we'll be hunting monsters. Dareth will lead us by creating a dungeon portal."
"That's going to be amazing! Let's go, Shitty Monarchhh!" Jaxyn yelled excitedly.
"Yayy, Muffin King!" Arvian joined in with enthusiasm.
"Do it, Dareth!" they both shouted.
Dareth raised his hands in the chamber, and a dark blue energy rippled through them. Even without a single word or spell, the energy grew, intensifying and expanding. Then, before them, a whirling portal appeared, its surface glimmering and contorting with power. The portal crackled with power, its edges radiating a menacing aura.
They quickly grabbed their weapons. Arvian, however, had already picked up the Soulrender blade without letting the others notice. Jaxyn chose his Katana sword, and Declan stood barehanded.
As they stepped through the portal, they found themselves in an untouched dungeon. The air was cool and damp, filled with the earthy scent of stone.
High above them, the walls were lined with rough-hewn rock, and the sound of dripping water reverberated through the quiet rooms.
Arvian opened the system to check his stats and see if he had enough coins to buy something useful from the novel store.
_______〔Status〕_______
Name: Arvian
Age: 16
Title: None:
Form: NA
Level: 10-「210/300exp」
Mana: 100/100
Rank: Pebble-「F Rank」
Intellectual level: 45
Stamina: : F-「LV-3」
Strength: F-「LV-5」
Speed: : F-「LV-3」
Quests Completed: 1
Unhuman-Missions Completed: 2/1000
Enemies Killed: 23
Rewards Earned: 5
Novel Store Points: 6500
——
'I've really grown stronger since last time. The Unhuman missions give pretty good rewards. The Unhuman mission gave me 5000 coins, and the village gave another 1500...' Arvian thought to himself. Without wasting any time, he headed straight to the Novel store.
He scrolled through the abilities, but nothing seemed particularly useful for under 6000 coins.
Suddenly, Jaxyn's voice broke through his thoughts. "What are you staring at, Arvian? Scared already?"
Arvian smirked. "Nah, I'm just thinking about how I'll throw you right into the monster's mouth."
Jaxyn blinked, clearly taken aback. "Huh?!"
Declan shrugged, his tone playful yet serious. "You two will handle the monsters. I'll be right behind you, ready to jump in if you need help."
They were suddenly encircled by enormous humanoid monsters. The creatures' imposing shapes prevented any possibility of escape as they arose from the shadows. As the monsters snarled and their eyes glowed menacingly, the tension in the air increased.
[Quest Title]: Defeat the Ogres and their Boss
Objective: Defeat all Ogres within the area. Eliminate the Ogre Boss to complete the quest.
[Quest Details]:
Monsters: Ogres (multiple, varying strength)
Boss: Ogre King (significantly stronger and more resilient)
Area: A dense, mist-covered forest with limited visibility, ideal for ambushes.
Time Limit: 1 hour
[Reward Details]:
Not revealed
Difficulty: Normal